Impeller for rotary snow removal apparatus



July 1, 19 9 IMPELLER Filed Oct. 31. 1966 'J. M.- COPE ET AL FOR ROTARY SNOW REMOVAL APPARATUS Sheet 0:"2

FIGJ A N VENTOPS j M l l e' ier July 1, 1969 J COPE ETAL 3,452,460

IMPELLER FOR ROTARY SNOW REMOVAL APPARATUS Filed Oct. 31. 1966 Sheet 3 of 2 IIID CHIIIIIIIHIIIIIIII United States Patent 3,452,460 IMPELLER FOR ROTARY SNOW REMOVAL APPARATUS John M. Cope, Newark, Ohio, and John V. Webster,

Kankakee, Ill., assignors to Roper Corporation, Kankakee, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 31, 1966, Ser. No. 590,753 Int. Cl. E01h /09; B65g 31/04 US. Cl. 37-43 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to rotary snow removal apparatus and more particularly to a novel impeller construction utilized in such apparatus.

One of the objects of our invention is the provision of a novel impeller of improved design for use in a snow removal apparatus.

Another object of our invention is the provision of an impeller which affords improved snow feeding and discharge characteristics and which utilizes available power in a highly eflicient manner.

Still another object of our invention is the provision of an impeller which has a minimum tendency to clog even in wet snow.

A further object of our invention is the provision of an impeller formed of molded plastic material which has high impact characteristics even at low temperatures and a desired degree of flexibility to minimize breakage.

Still a further object of our invention is the provision of an impeller of the foregoing type which has low wear characteristics but which is adjustable to' compensate for wear.

Still a further object of our invention is the provision of an impeller of the foregoing type which is simple in construction, highly efiicient in operation, economical to manufacture and durable in service.

Other and further objects and advantages of our invention will become apparent from the following description when the same is considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a rotary impeller in accordance with my invention and showing the same mounted in a snow removal apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of an embodiment of my invention taken substantially on line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a similar view taken substantially on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral indicates, generally, a chassis of a snow removal apparatus having side wall members 11, on which the impeller indicated generally by the numeral 12 is supported for rotation. The chassis 10 includes a pair of ground engaging wheels 13 and an arcuate casing 14 forming a mold board with which the blades of the impeller co-act in throwing the snow, as will be hereinafter explained. The casing 14 is provided with an integral extension 16 on which are mounted a series of spaced flexible vanes 17 which are 3,452,460 Patented July 1, 1969 arranged to be selectively bowed towards opposite sides of the casing to direct the snow in one direction or another, as the case may be. A gasoline engine indicated generally by the numeral 18 is supported on the chassis and power from the engine is transmitted tothe im peller 12 by means of an endless sprocket chain 19. Suitable handle members 21 and 22 are provided for manipulating the apparatus.

Referring to FIGS. 2-4, the impeller 12 comprises a hollow shaft 23, shaped in cross-section substantially like that illustrated in FIG. 4, and having a bore 24 and two opposite sides, each with a series of longitudinal ridges or embossments 26 extending the full length of the shaft. Received within the ends of the bore 24 are flanged bearing sleeves 27, 28 mounted on respective stub shafts extending inwardly from each of the side wall members 11. A sprocket Wheel 29 is suitably secured to one end of the shaft 23 and cooperates with a sprocket chain 19 trained over a driving pinion 31 mounted on the end of the crank shaft of the engine 18.

A pair of identical impeller blades 32 are mounted on the shaft 23 in opposed directions, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Since the blades are identical in construction only one will be described.

Each blade 32 preferably is formed of a suitable plastic material and is molded to the configuration illustrated. The blade has high impact characteristics, even at low temperatures, and embodies a desired degree of flexibility which minimizes breakage. The character of the plastic material is such that the tendency of snow to stick to the blade surfaces is minimized.

The blade includes a generally rectangular mounting portion 33 the underside of which is provided with a series of parallel flutes 34 arranged to cooperate with the longitudinal ridges on the shaft, in the manner illustrated in FIG. 4. Integral with the mounting portion 33 is a blade body 36 having a curved distal edge 37 as seen in FIG. 2 and including both planar and cylindrical surfaces. For example, referring to FIG. 3, it will be seen that the surface area bounded substantially by the triangle A, B, C is generally planar While the areas adjoining said area on opposite sides thereof comprise cylindrical surface areas. Thus, it will seen that the side edge portions 38 of each blade are disposed forwardly of the central portion of the blade so that as the blade in its rotation bites into a mass of snow it is the edge portions 38 which first engage the snow and, as the rotation of the blade continues, the engagement of the blade with the snow increases incrementally and becomes more complete. It will be understood that this progressive incremental engagement prevents overloading of the blade, as in the case Where a flat blade is employed and thereby results in more efficient use of the available power. As was hereinbefore noted, the blade 32 is formed of suitable plastic material which minimizes adhesion of the snow to the blade thereby minimizing clogging. In operation the impeller 12 accelerates the velocity of the snow particles sufiiciently to project the snow through the spaces between the discharge vanes 17 which are adjusted to determine the direction of discharge of the snow. As is illustrated in FIG. 4, the body 36 of the blade is disposed in angular relation to the mounting portion 33 and a series of ribs 39 integral with the mounting portion and the body portion afford reinforcement for the impeller blade structure. The mounting portion 33 of the blade is provided with a series of elongated slots 41 extending transversely of the blade, said slots being adapted to register with apertures provided in the shaft 23 to receive bolts 42 by which the blades 32 may be secured to the shaft. Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 it will be seen that a plurality of parallel ribs 43 are disposed along the distal marginal edge 37 of the body 36, .said ribs being coextensive with-the body and affording reinforcement along said marginal edge portion.

Each point of the distal edge 37 of the blade mounted on the shaft 23 is located substantially on the surface of a cylinder having a radius the center of which is the axis of the shaft. Thus, each portion of the distal edge 37 in the, course of revolution of the impeller 12, in the direction indicated by the arrows in FIG. 1, will be disposed at the same distance from the shaft axis thereby maintaining a uniform clearance between the distal edge 37 of the blade and the scraper 44 and casing 14.

It is anticipated that the distal marginal edge 37 of the blade will wear in service and, accordingly, it will be necessary to effect adjustment of each balde so as to maintain the proper clearance between the edge of the blade and the scraper 44 and the casing 14. Such adjustment generally may be eifected by loosening the bolts 42 1. In a snowremoval apparatus, a rotary impeller comprising a shaft journalled for rotation and means for driving said shaft, a pair of blades mounted on said shaft and extending in opposite directions, each of said blades including a mounting portion and a body portion, said body portion being generally forwardly inclined in relation to the mounting portion, said mounting portion M being substantially co-extensive in length and engageable with said shaft, said body portion being integral with said and shifting the blades 32 transversely of the shaft in the i direction of the blade body 36 so that the flutes 34 on the mounting portion 33 engage with respective next adjacent ridges 26 on the shaft, the blades being then secured by tightening the bolts 42.

It will be apparent that the blades 32 which are molded of plastic are relatively inexpensive and after the maximum adjustment has been made for Wear the blades may be disposed of and replaced by new blades.

Various changes coming within the spirit of our invention may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art; hence, we do not wish to be limited to the specific embodiments shown and described or uses mentioned, but intend the same to be merely exemplary, the scope of our invention being limited only by the appended claims.

We claim:

mounting portion and'continuous therewith throughout the length of said mounting portion, said body portion having a medial portion which is a generally planar surface and two side portions each of which is a generally cylindrical surface, the distal edge ofsaid body portion being longitudinally curved and-in rotationdescribing a cylinder the axis of which coincides with the longitudinal axis of said shaft.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner. EUGENEYH. EICKHOLT, Primary Examiner.

, US. Cl. X.R. 37-53; 198-128 

